SW1990 / SW1990-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Service for Pancreas Cancer

The SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic mouse model engrafts a metastasis-derived, KRAS-mutant human pancreatic adenocarcinoma into the pancreatic parenchyma, closely mirroring the local growth and abdominal dissemination of advanced pancreas cancer. Alfa Cytology provides this model as a complete preclinical package — authenticated reporter-cell banking, meticulous orthotopic surgery, repeated in vivo bioluminescence imaging, protocol-driven treatment arms, and thorough terminal analysis — built to generate robust evidence for your therapeutic programs.

Overview of SW1990 / SW1990-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model for Pancreas Cancer

SW1990 is a human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma line established in 1978 from a spleen metastasis of a grade II exocrine pancreatic tumor in a 56-year-old male patient — one of the earliest PDAC lines described and one of only a few derived from a metastatic deposit of the spleen. The cells are large, epithelial-like, and mucin-producing, with ultrastructural features of ductal epithelium, a near-triploid karyotype (67–75 chromosomes), and a reported 29% plating efficiency. At the molecular level, SW1990 carries homozygous KRAS G12D mutation together with a heterozygous TP53 alteration (p.Pro191del), and it secretes carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and lactate dehydrogenase in quantities proportional to tumor burden. Notably, subcutaneous injection of as few as 1×10⁶ cultured cells forms tumors in nude mice that histologically resemble the original neoplasm.

Fig 1. TUS-007 induced apoptosis only when KRAS degradation was detected in KRAS G12D driven cancer cells. SW1990 cell were treated with TUS-007 for 12 h (mean ± SEM; n = 3).). (Imanishi, Satoshi, et al., 2021)

SW1990-luc is the luciferase-engineered counterpart of this line, stably expressing firefly luciferase to permit non-invasive, serial quantification of orthotopic tumor growth after D-luciferin administration — capturing expansion of the primary pancreatic lesion as well as peritoneal and distant spread in the same animals over time. Because of its metastatic origin, its robust clonogenic behavior (SW1990 cells harbor a hypoxia-responsive side population enriched for cancer stem cell traits), and its consistent engraftment, the SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic system is widely employed in in vivo programs studying gemcitabine-based regimens, Sonic Hedgehog pathway modulation, KRAS-pathway targeting, and stromal-interaction biology.

Cell Line Information: SW1990 / SW1990-luc

The profile below summarizes SW1990 (ATCC CRL-2172; Cellosaurus CVCL_1723) and its luciferase-labeled derivative SW1990-luc, which retains the parental genotype and growth properties while adding optical reporting for in vitro assays and in vivo imaging.

Our Services

Alfa Cytology delivers the SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic model under a disciplined preclinical framework: cells are qualified for identity, mycoplasma status, and luciferase performance before surgery; experienced surgeons implant defined cell doses into the pancreatic parenchyma; and the study proceeds through scheduled in vivo imaging, randomized dosing, interim health monitoring, and terminal necropsy with complete histopathology — culminating in a structured report tailored to your program's decision points.

Workflow of SW1990 / SW1990-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Construction

Construction of the SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic pancreas cancer model follows a standardized sequence with defined quality checkpoints at each stage, ensuring consistent engraftment and dependable in vivo data.

1. Cell-line qualification and expansion: SW1990 or SW1990-luc cells are revived from authenticated, low-passage stocks and grown in L-15 medium with 10% FBS under air-only conditions; STR identity and mycoplasma negativity are confirmed before implantation.
2. Luciferase confirmation (SW1990-luc): Reporter expression is validated in vitro by luminescence assay to confirm uniform signal intensity across the working cell population.
3. Animal preparation: Female immunodeficient mice (e.g., BALB/c nude or NOD/SCID, 6–8 weeks of age) are acclimated, health-screened, and randomized according to the approved animal-use protocol.
4. Orthotopic surgical implantation: Under anesthesia and sterile conditions, the pancreas is exposed through a small laparotomy; a bolus of 1×10⁶–5×10⁶ SW1990 / SW1990-luc cells, with or without Matrigel support, is injected into the pancreatic parenchyma or tail under visual guidance, and the abdominal wall is sutured closed.
5. Recovery and baseline imaging: Post-operative welfare is monitored daily until wounds heal; baseline bioluminescence images are then acquired after intraperitoneal D-luciferin injection to verify engraftment.
6. Scheduled monitoring phase: Tumor burden is followed at defined intervals by in vivo bioluminescence imaging, accompanied by body-weight tracking and clinical-condition scoring to detect toxicity early.
7. Randomized treatment phase: When tumor signals reach pre-specified thresholds, animals are randomized into vehicle and treatment groups and dosed per the study plan, with optional interim imaging or plasma sampling for pharmacodynamic readouts.
8. Terminal analysis and reporting: At endpoint, primary pancreatic tumors and disseminated lesions are harvested, weighed, and imaged ex vivo; tissues are fixed for H&E and immunohistochemistry (e.g., Ki67, cleaved caspase-3, α-SMA), and all findings are compiled into a comprehensive study report.

Fig 2. SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic mouse model construction workflow.

Case Study-SW1990 / SW1990-luc Orthotopic Mouse Model Development

Alfa Cytology maintains active hands-on experience with the SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic pancreas cancer model in preclinical research programs. Work conducted to date includes orthotopic model establishment and baseline characterization, bioluminescence-guided efficacy assessment of chemotherapeutic agents and pathway-targeted compounds, and dissemination-focused study designs evaluating local invasion and abdominal spread. Every engagement is configured around the client's molecule and hypothesis, and further case details can be provided upon inquiry.

Why Choose Alfa Cytology?

Choosing Alfa Cytology for your SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic study means working with a CRO that pairs surgical modeling proficiency with disciplined, transparent program management:

• Proven capability in orthotopic pancreatic surgery with consistently reliable SW1990 engraftment.
• STR-verified, mycoplasma-free SW1990 and SW1990-luc cell banks with validated luciferase expression.
• Integrated in vivo bioluminescence imaging from baseline through terminal ex vivo confirmation.
• Study designs covering chemotherapy, targeted agents, combination regimens, and stem cell–focused questions.
• A dedicated project scientist providing regular updates and responsive communication throughout.
• Rigorous compliance with animal-welfare and preclinical data-quality standards at every stage.

Contact Us

If your pancreas cancer program calls for a validated SW1990 / SW1990-luc orthotopic model, we would be glad to help you design the right study. Contact us today for a customized proposal and schedule, or reach out to discuss how we can adapt the model, endpoints, and readouts to your research needs — Alfa Cytology is ready to support your next step.

For research use only. Not intended for any clinical use.